@swartswood-walleye

[Locnar]

So I'm a guy from PA just looking for any tid-bits, not asking for location of your favorite point or drop off, just a little info on walleye fishing in this lake, with an emphasis on ice. Any hints as to the normal patterns of these fish in winter would be greatly appreciated. I don't own a boat so all my wallye experience is from the delaware and i've done quite well for myself, but thats another story. I am just starting out on jigging up eyes but northeast PA is tough, wallenpaupack is very intimidating for a begginer. Then I drove by swartswood a few times going to jobs which peaked my interest about this lake and also the fact that it's closer to my house than the Pack in PA. This appears to be one gem of a lake if you ask me, but appears after my research to be one most aren't willing to divulge much real tactical info on. So in closing I would be very greatful for any tips on the patterns of these fish in winter early,mid,and late. I own the hydrographic map for this lake and can see where to start fishing, just would like a small bit of guiding light on this soon to be new to me lake. Thanks ahead

[lwfinj]

There are walleyes over there, but very difficult to catch.

I have tried about 5 times in 2003-2004 - none. Have been taking to regulars over there, they have been saying it is more like big luck then regular catch.

[Jig4M]

I've been there in the summer with my Nephews at night. The older one hooked a 20 incher on live bait, while the younger one got a 16 incher with a floating Rapala. I of course got skunked. We were fishing the part of the lake by the camp ground boat launch if that helps you. They're there just gotta' work for them and pray for some dumb luck.

[ecsteelheader]

Swartzwood is way overrated,,,and too many worthless trips going there....I'd rather fish NY >))>

[MikeThePike]

For someone who makes such a big deal about how great the fishing in NY is you sure like to make a lot of posts about NJ waters.

The guy asked for advice on a lake and I'm sure he didn't expect head to NY as an answer about catching walleyes in Swartswood.

[JigAwhopper]

I'm not sure if that lake is over rated or perhaps the local guys know how to keep a secret.  I went there once and just to give it a shot and brought home a skunk    According to the NJDFW there are some nice 'eyes in there.  Here is part of the report from 2005:


The hatchery staff was pleasantly surprised with the size and quantity of walleyes captured at Swartswood Lake. Over 170 walleyes were caught in the trap nets, including 42 fish over five pounds and three over ten pounds. The largest walleye from Swartswood tipped the scales at 11.58 pounds and the longest measured 29 inches in length. An unusual twist to the walleye collecting effort at Swartswood resulted from the somewhat late start to the season. Prolonged ice cover on the lake allowed pre-spawn male walleyes to ascend the lake's tributaries before trap nets could be set.

Of the first 160 walleyes collected, 130 were females and only 30 were males. Most of the females were either ripe or within 1-2 days of releasing their eggs, a situation which required some quick action on the part of the hatchery's brood stock crew. To compensate for the imbalance between the sexes, the crew resorted to an alternate method to collect the extra males needed for spawning.

On April 8th, hatchery employees electrofished Neldon Brook, a major tributary to Swartswood Lake and in a short period of time were able to collect an additional 50 male walleyes. Overall size data collected from Swartswood Lake walleyes showed that fish collected in 2005 were larger than those collected in 2004, a trend observed over the past three years.


SWARTSWOOD LAKE WALLEYE
 # DAYS NETS WERE SET      3
 # FISH CAUGHT                  225
 AVERAGE LENGTH (INCHES)   20.4
 LARGEST FISH (INCHES)        29
 AVERAGE WEIGHT (POUNDS)   3.77
 LARGEST FISH (POUNDS)        11.58
 

J.
 

[ecsteelheader]

For someone who makes such a big deal about how great the fishing in NY is you sure like to make a lot of posts about NJ waters.

The guy asked for advice on a lake and I'm sure he didn't expect head to NY as an answer about catching walleyes in Swartswood.

I wasnt making a big deal out of it ,,,I live close to little swartswood and big swartswood all my life, fished them quite alottt of times and too many skunko's..lol..And fishing in NY..Greenwood is my fav when theres enough ice,,other than that i go to 2 or 3 NY lakes,resviors within 25 miles..

I'd rather be steelhead fishing...lol

[MikeThePike]

I wasnt making a big deal out of it ,,,I live close to little swartswood and big swartswood all my life, fished them quite alottt of times and too many skunko's..lol..And fishing in NY..Greenwood is my fav when theres enough ice,,other than that i go to 2 or 3 NY lakes,resviors within 25 miles..

I'd rather be steelhead fishing...lol

I'd much rather be steelie fishing as well but seeing as Erie is a 5 hour ride for me and I can target walleyes thru the ice on the river 5 minutes from my house I'll target them till spring.

Swartswood can produce if you learn its secrets. Not many people have learned the secrets of that place through the ice though. I think that its overfished by people who don't know how to fish it and that can give it the reputation of being over rated.

[4inch_ok]

I have been told they catch walleyes near the boat livery. I tried that spot twice once thru the ice and once in open water caught nothing save a few perch.

[Jigmeister]

Does anyone have an update on the thickness of the ice for Swartswood as of Tuesday the 6th?  I heard that people were fishing over the weekend?

[Itsallaboutcatchingem]

Not sure, but most lakes in NJ have enough ice for fishing after this past week.  If your looking for eyes, try Hopatcong.  All the productive spots have plenty of ice now.

[Locnar]

Well thanks for the info, but my appetite is even more unsatisfied. The secrets of a lake such as this are hard won and well guarded as they should be takes a lot of work and time to solve the riddles of walleye through the ice on any lake. I'm a noob eye' fisherman, but I've had my share of success on the river and it's time to move on to hard water, ice fishing for walleyes has been something i've always pondered and now I am hungry, it appears this may be the place. Better to learn on a 2 and half mile lake than a 17 mile lake such as wallenpaupack in PA. I also have read the NJ dept. of wildlife article and yes I have seen what a mighty 11 pound swartswood walleye looks like, that picture set me off studying this lake in the first place. They are here it's just a matter of learning. Something I look forward to.

[kuz]

I think what most of us are referring to, is that we all have seen the stocking reports and trapnet reports from Swartswood, and seen the 11lb walleye which was returned to the lake, and all the information points to a fantastic fishery which leads our imagination to believe that when you get to Swartswood, the second you drop your jig down there is a school of old marble-eyes just waiting for you. Believe me, I've pondered the information and looked at the maps and set a plan and executed the best I could.
   For the most part, in my experience, and the experience of some I know who too have fallen to the lure of swartswood, the lake doesn't pan out as well as one would expect. Its a very tough lake to fish. Reasons being are 1. the entire lake is structure. Everywhere you look its a drop off or weeds or rocks.. it all looks "fishy". and 2. there is a lot of forage for Mr. Walleye in Swartswood. ( in my opinion ). Ive been there nights where the fish are busting herring from one side of the lake to another.. all around me, off in the distance, everywhere. I'm fishing with herring...and haven't done that well.
    Most locals I've talked to have said that they get them, or that its hit or miss, or that you have to work for them. I've seen one guy killing them one day and that was the only day I've ever seen that.
    That lake frustrates the heck out of me, because I can't figure it out. I do better on waters that the "numbers" suggest shouldn't be as healthy of a fishery. But do I try to get up there as much as I can? Sure. Because the fish are there, and there are some big fish. When I go there am I looking for consistancy, no, but I am looking for a sense of accomplishment when I finally do figure that darn lake out! (and then I'm never going back!!!) haha. Good luck.

[radzicto]

It's my understanding that night fishing and pre-dawn and dusk would be better for the DA-Eye's in Big S. Thats open water and hard water. Not sure what the hours at Big S. are but good solid ice and a Coleman would be a dream on a mild night if you could go out and not have the rangers lock you butt up. Big S. was and may still be a big yellow perch destination, as as was mentioned, the forage base is what most likely makes it such a hard nut to crack.